Vote for Democracy 14 - 04 - 2014 part 1 of 2
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Vote for Democracy 14 - 04 - 2014 part 1 of 2 - Video
South Africa ( Celebrating 20 years into democracy )
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South Africa ( Celebrating 20 years into democracy ) - Video
SKYLINE OVER POVERTY LINE The towering buildings are at the heart of Makati City, while the shanties are along an estero in Pasay City. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
The Philippines remains a fragile democracy despite the Aquino administrations gains that have not been enough to make up for nearly a decade of regression during the previous administration.
A new report by Bertelsmann Foundation, a German think tank, said true progress in the Philippines would be out of reach unless the improbable was achieved: Dismantling of oligarchies that control both politics and business.
Since the election of Benigno Aquino III as president in May 2010, the overall development of democracy in the Philippines has regained momentum, the groups 2014 Bertelsmann Transformation Index (BTI) 2014 report read.
However, the corruption and patronage under Gloria Macapagal-Arroyos administration left behind a difficult legacy for the current president, it said.
Bertelsmann said the dominance of entrenched family clans in politics and the economy should be reduced in order to make politics and economics more transparent and competitive. The antidynasty law, which has been debated in Congress since 1987, must be passed, it said.
This, however, would be highly unrealistic since President Aquino himself and about 80 percent of lawmakers come from these dynasties.
The groups BTI report, published every two years, analyzes and evaluates the quality of democracy, market economy and political management in 129 developing and transition countries. It measures successes and setbacks on the path toward democracy based on the rule of law and a socially responsible market economy.
The Philippines ranked 36th overall in the 2014 rankings, improving from 48th in 2012. In terms of political and economic transformation, the country ranked 40th and 44th, respectively.
In 2010, the country ranked 49th in the main index and 51st in 2008. The score for 2014 was the best showing for the Philippines since the index was launched in 2003.
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No real progress in PH if dynasties not dismantled
Education Prof. Castleman says childhood factors determine adult participation by Kayla Eanes | Apr 17 2014 | 6 hours ago
The Democracy Network hosted a panel on diversity in democracy Wednesday night to discuss the participation, enfranchisement and disillusionment of diverse groups in politics.
The panel consisted of LGBTQ Center Coordinator Scott Rheinheimer, Patrice Grimes, an African-American Affairs associate dean, Asst. Education Prof. Ben Castleman and Education graduate student Janelle Peifer.
We want to provide a space to have conversations that arent usually had about politics and that dont usually come up in mainstream political conversations, said third-year College student Sky Miller, director of the Democracy Network. [Diversity] I think is a topic, but definitely intellectually, not one that often comes up unless youre in a class that covers that topic. Having that as a discussion is really important.
The Democracy Network focused its look at the issue on an academic, rather than a political, perspective.
I think its a very interesting perspective to have actual educators be the ones talking about diversity in democracy as opposed to politics professors and people who deal with the overall governmental structure, said first-year College student Aryn Frazier, Democracy Network education committee chair.
Diversity adds many different perspectives, he said. [It allows] people of different backgrounds to come together about issues.
Castleman said inequality does not bode well for democracy.
The process of disenfranchisement is perpetuated at a young age, he said. This continues into secondary school and even college.
Castleman said by the time people are 18 or 20 years old, their ability to engage in political discourse is largely shaped by factors they didnt control around the age of 2 or 3.